The Disability Desk of the Directorate of Student Affairs (DoSA), the Department of Health Promotion and Disability at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST), in collaboration with Wilfrid Laurier University, has organised a Disability Awareness Day event to celebrate students with disabilities, reaffirm the University's commitment to an inclusive and accessible learning environment, and promote greater awareness of disability inclusion on campus.
The event commenced with a campus-wide awareness float, during which participants engaged members of the University community on the importance of disability inclusion and accessibility.
This was followed by interactive simulations, including a Mobility Impairment Simulator, Blindness Types Simulator, and Deafness Simulator, which provided participants with first-hand insight into the everyday experiences and challenges faced by persons with disabilities.
Deputy Director of the Directorate of Student Affairs, Prof. Samuel Amos-Abanyie has called for sustained efforts to foster an inclusive university environment where students with disabilities are empowered to reach their full potential.
He stressed that while disability awareness is important, it must be complemented by deliberate actions that remove barriers and promote equal opportunities for all members of the university community.
He encouraged participants to use the workshop as an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations, challenge long-held perceptions about disability, and strengthen their commitment to creating a more accessible and welcoming university community.
The Head of the Gender Inclusion and Vulnerability Office (GIV), Prof. Mercy Babu has called for sustained efforts to institutionalise inclusion across all aspects of university life, stressing that accessibility and equal opportunity must become defining values of the institution.
She highlighted that the celebration was more than an awareness campaign on disability but also a recognition of progress and a renewed commitment to creating an enabling environment for all.
"Today we are not only creating awareness of disabilities but we are celebrating progress. It is a day to recognise the contributions of students with disabilities," she stated.
Prof. Badu urged higher education institutions to lead the way in promoting diversity, equity and accessibility, arguing that inclusion should not be viewed as an additional obligation but as a core institutional principle.
"If we want a society where diversity is respected, where barriers are removed and where everyone has equal opportunities, then our universities must lead by example," she said.
She further stressed that genuine inclusion should be reflected in the University's infrastructure, teaching methods, student support systems and everyday interactions.
Prof. Magnus Mfoafu McCarthy from Wilfrid Laurier University has called for greater awareness and action to address the challenges faced by persons with disabilities.
He emphasized that disability should not be viewed as a condition that separates people but as a reality that anyone could experience, urging society to adopt a more compassionate perspective.
Prof. McCarthy identified stigma as one of the greatest barriers confronting persons with disabilities in Ghana, explaining that misconceptions and social prejudice continue to limit opportunities for inclusion and participation.
"The struggle we have in this country is the stigma associated with disability. People don't want to approach it because they see persons with disabilities as different. We need to normalise disability and create a society where everyone is accepted and valued," he stated.
Story and Photos: Michael Kwawu
